Difficulty in identifying compulsions and obsessions

[Cláudio]

Hi, im so confused that i cant identify my mental compulsions and obsessions more, i have doubts if is ocd or not and im obsessed for this. What I can do?

Edited July 25, 2014 by Cláudio

[Guest Sisyphus]

Hi, im so confused that i cant identify my mental compulsions and obsessions more, i have doubts if is ocd or not and im obsessed for this. What I can do?

Hi Claudio,

First of all, are you saying that you understand the concept of what an obsession and compulsion is, but your state of mind is too confused to indentify what your obsessions and compulsions are?

Or something else?

An awful lot of people with OCD doubt that they have OCD at some point or other. It seems so unique and such a natural part of us that we can't see that we could ever be any different. And therefore we think it's untreatable. We think we are destined to be like this forever and there is no hope.

I can't comment on whether that's possible but I have seen this theme come up a lot of times here, which is re-assuring because I have had these thoughts too. But I think at some point, after enough times reading descriptions of OCD and concluding it matches your behaviour, you have to make the leap of faith that you have it and move on from there. OK - so maybe easier said than done if that is in itself an obsession.

All the best,

David.

Edited July 25, 2014 by Sisyphus

[PolarBear]

An obsession is an intrusive, unwanted thought that causes distress.

A compulsion is a thought, behaviour, ritual done to alleviate distress.

If a thought pops into your head and it makes you anxious, that's an obsession.

If you're doing something to feel better, that's a compulsion.

That's the bare bones explanation.

Perhaps if you give an example we could try to help you identify which is which.

[Cláudio]

Thanks for the answers.

I think i need pay more attention in ocd to identify him. Sometimes the distress is small so i dont realize that is a compulsion/obsession. One doubt: the obsessions are thoughts with words or a "flash thought", "impulsive thought?

Claudio, sorry for the english

Edited August 6, 2014 by Cláudio